Posted by linkadge on June 28, 2010, at 20:04:54
In reply to Re: The biology of depression: SLS » Rosy Crucifiction, posted by SLS on June 28, 2010, at 17:28:34
The epigenic theory doesn't explain it all too. As SLS mentioned, a rapid cycler can go through periods (brief) of normal on and off. Are the genes switcing this quickly?
The fact that some bipolars can go from the worst depression to euthemia or mania with a single nights sleep loss says that the capacity to feel normal is right there. There is just overactivation of certain brain circuity, or underactation of other circutry.
There is probably faulty wiring in the bipolar brain. Perhaps loss of density in certain brain regions that makes mood regulation difficult.
SSRI's work (IMHO) by temporarilty disrupting prefrontal cingulate circutry. They don't help fix the circuty, they just shut it off. This might work temporarily but eventually, the brain loses executive function and becomes depressed for differnt reasons altogether.
Perhaps the cure will be the injection of stem cells into areas with troubled circulty, or more sophisticated DBS which can more effectively reroute negative rumanative through processes.
Perhaps a DBS which actually monitors (in real time) the metabolic state of a certain circut only give a little jolt when a state of hypermetabolism is recieved.
This is as opposed to current DBS which give jolts at regular intervals.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:952373
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100628/msgs/952582.html